As if on cue, Alex’s stomach rumbled. Teren laughed.
“I get the point. Dinner, right?”
“Right.”
Chapter Twenty-nine
Teren caught a cab to a car rental agency the next day. After signing for it under a new alias, she took the rental car back to the hotel and picked up Alex. Together they loaded their bags into the trunk. It would be better, the two agents decided, if they didn’t stay in the same place two nights in a row.
They drove to an office building near the middle of the business district. After parking, they entered the building through the lobby doors, and took the elevator to the seventh floor.
They stepped out into a small foyer with white walls and no ornamentation. There were no windows. On either side of the room there was a solid white door, with no handle or knob. The pattern of the linoleum consisted of alternating black and white squares, and was polished enough to reflect the overhead flourescent light.
Across from the elevator stood a counter, also white, with black trim. The seat behind it was filled by a large bald man in a blue suit who reminded Alex of the stereotypical thug from the gangster movies. He looked up at them, and glared.
“This is a private company, we do not accept visitors, unless they have passes.”
“We’re here to see Gerd Heinrich. My name should be on your guest list.”
“And you are?”
“Teren Mylos.”
He glanced at the screen of the computer on his desk, and shook his head. “Nothing there.”
Teren frowned, and clenched her fists. “He forgot to inform you we were coming in today. Fine.” She nodded, trying to keep control of her temper. “Please call him.”
“No.”
One dark eyebrow rose. “Excuse me?”
“No. I don’t have to call anyone. If your name is not on the list, then you can’t see anyone, and you can’t come in. It’s as simple as that.”
Teren rolled her eyes. “Whatever happened to Franz? He was someone I could deal with.”
“Franz retired. Now, leave, before I get angry and make you leave.”
Alex didn’t understand a word of what was going on between Teren and the man at the desk, so she was surprised when Teren reached over the desk and grabbed the man by the lapel of his jacket.
The tall woman pulled her adversary across the counter, then slammed him into the elevator door. He reached under his coat, but Teren stopped his movement by grabbing his wrist and twisting. She put her other hand against his throat, holding him in place, and planted a knee firmly against his crotch. He stopped moving.
“Now,” Teren growled, “you are going to tell me Gerd’s extension, correct?”
He tried to shake his head, and Teren tightened her grip.
“I’m in no mood to play around, little man. I’ve had a bad month, a really bad day, and I’m about to make yours even worse. So, you tell me Gerd’s extension, and you do it quickly, or I’m going to begin removing pieces of your anatomy. Am I being clear?”
The man nodded, and gasped for a breath when she eased her hold on his throat.
“Now. The extension?”
“Fourteen-twelve.”
“Alex, go dial one-four-one-two on the desk phone, and tell Gerd that you and I are here, alright?”
Her partner made her way around the desk and dialed.
“Heinrich.”
“Gerd, this is Alex Reis.”
There was a pause, and then, “Uh — Alex, hello. Um, how did you get this number?”
“Teren gave it to me.”
“How did she get it?”
“Well, the man out here in the lobby was kind enough to give it to her. Now, I think she wants you to come out here, and you might want to do it before she drops this poor guy down the elevator shaft.”
There was a click from the other end of the phone, and a moment later the door to the left of the elevator opened.
“Teren, would you please let go of Karsten? I’m sure he meant no harm.”
She immediately released her hold on his neck and arm, and pulled her knee away. After steadying him on his feet, she reached up to straighten his collar. Karsten stayed still, his eyes still bulging in fear.
“Good morning, Gerd. You forgot to add our names to your visitors list.”
“I didn’t forget. I wasn’t expecting you so early. Did you have to scare the hell out of the man?”
She shrugged. “Maybe next time he’ll be a bit nicer to a visiting agent, hmm?” She walked past him into the hallway.
Alex sighed, and followed after her. She stopped for a moment, looking up at Gerd. “Sorry. It’s been a really bad morning, and she’s been wanting to beat someone up for hours.” Then she stepped past him.
Gerd glanced back at Karsten who was beginning to gingerly rub his throat. “I’ll write it in the log later. Get some ice on your neck, eh?” Then he followed Teren and Alex back down the hall.
Teren waited by the door to Gerd’s office, which was closed. He approached her and shook his head, leading them a little further down the corridor, and into what appeared to be an unused office. There were a couple of chairs, and a desk with a phone on it.
“Alright, Teren. I’ve set up a secure line to your office. You know, of course, that Alex cannot go anywhere else? I’m breaking the rules by allowing her past the desk. She’s not a cleared agent.”
Teren dropped carelessly into a chair and stared at Gerd. “Yes. I know the rules.” She pointed at the phone. “You’re sure this is secure?”
He nodded.
“Good. Why don’t you and Alex go get something to drink? I’m sure the cafeteria isn’t top secret, is it?” She frowned at him. “Of course, if you still make that deadly coffee, then I can see why it would be.”
“Oh, very funny. First you’re looking like you’re going to kill Karsten —”
“Karsten? Oh, you mean monkey boy out front.”
“and now you’re joking about coffee.” Gerd shook his head. “I’d forgotten how changeable your moods can be, Teren.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “You’ve forgotten a lot, haven’t you, Gerd?”
“What does that mean?”
Teren waved a hand in dismissal and picked up the phone. Alex took Gerd’s arm.
“I don’t know about you, Gerd,” she said as she gently urged him toward the door, “but I’m parched. I could use a cup of something. Will you show me the cafeteria?”
With a last glance at Teren, Gerd let the door close behind him. He stopped and shook his head. “Alex, I’ll never admit it to Teren, but our cafeteria has been voted worst coffee in the world by the agents who visit here. I’m not sure you wouldn’t be happier by the desk.”
“Oh, no. I’m not much of a coffee person, I like hot chocolate or hot tea better. But right now, I’d take just about anything.” She chuckled. “And I don’t think Karsten would be too happy with me hanging around out front.”
Gerd smiled. He had to agree with her. “Fine. But I don’t know that the hot chocolate will be much better than the coffee.”
“Is there chocolate in it?”
“Of course.”
“Then it’ll do.”
Teren finally finished her call, and hung up with a sense of relief. For the first time in days something had gone right.
It was just so ludicrous that the best news since they’d left the states had come from the same man that had gotten her involved in this mess.
Ron Graves had been the one to insist on George Mather accompanying her and Perry to Lithuania. He had chosen him against the wishes of the other two agents involved. Teren had never known what his reaction was to hearing of Mather’s betrayal, but when he had come to see her in the hospital, he’d had a cast on his hand.
When he had called her to tell her about Alex, and the finding of Perry’s id, she had threatened the man with serious bodily injury. Now, however, she couldn’t find it in her to hate him, even though she wanted to. He had, after all, introduced her to the blonde woman with whom she traveled. And Alex was … .
Important. And growing more so.
Teren had to admit that scared her.
Before she could dwell on further thoughts, the door opened, and Alex preceeded Gerd back into the small office.